Official website of the President of Russia

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Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon,

We have just had negotiations with the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev.

During the course of the meeting we discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. We exchanged opinions on the main problems of regional and international politics.

We noted with satisfaction that the relations between Russia and Kazakhstan are developing dynamically. They are based on an active political dialogue, traditional close economic cooperation and fruitful cultural and humanitarian cooperation. Today’s negotiations have reaffirmed our mutual commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership and alliance.

This is highlighted by the start of the Year of Kazakhstan in Russia. I am sure this is a milestone event that will bring our fraternal peoples still closer together, and open up new opportunities for diverse business projects and public initiatives.

One of the central themes of today’s meeting was the development of trade and economic ties. Russia and Kazakhstan intend to consistently implement our existing agreements and deepen bilateral business partnership.

That applies above all to the prospects of joint work in the field of nuclear energy, in particular the building of a nuclear power plant in the Lake Balkhash area with Russian participation.

We pay great attention to implementing the long-term agreement on the transit of Kazakh oil through Russian territory, and the settlement of the issue of the legal status of the Caspian and the extension of the Russian lease of the Baikonur complex.

During our talk with the President of Kazakhstan we thoroughly discussed key international issues, including a most pressing one today – fighting terrorism.

Russia and Kazakhstan are active members of the anti-terrorist coalition. Our cooperation in that field plays an important role in the common efforts aimed at eradicating that evil.

To strengthen the foundations of stability in the region we will work towards the early creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, and seek to deepen international cooperation between the member states of the Collective Security Treaty and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

I note with satisfaction that Kazakhstan’s initiative to hold an economic forum of the Eurasian Economic Community is being implemented in Moscow. Nursultan Abishevich and I are convinced that forming an effective common economic space is the priority task of EurAsEC. A space open to trade, investment cooperation and joint business initiatives.

In conclusion I would like to say that our meeting with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was, as always, substantive, fruitful and very frank. I would like to thank our guest for this style of work, which enables us to solve the complicated tasks facing our countries in a very effective way.

Thank you.